hunter



(No Model.)

R. M. HUNTER. ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

Patented Mar. 17, 1891.

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RUDOLPH HUNTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNCR TO THE ELECTRIC CAR COMPANY CF AMERICA, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRlC RAILWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,618, dated March 17, 1891.

Original application filed September 2S, 1886, Serial No. 214,309. Divided and this application filed September l, 1890. Serial No. 363,636.V (No model.)

.To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Im- 5 provemcnt in Electric Railways, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to electric railways; andit consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in the following specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

This application (Case 162) is a division of my application, Serial No. 214,309, filed September 23, 1886.

The object of my invention is toprovide a construction, for an electric railway wherein a conductor shall be suspended above the railway and adapted to supply current to the electrically-propelled vehicle supported upon zo the track-rails of the railway, said rails forming the return-circuit of the system, and in which the car is provided with an underrunning contact making a traveling connection with' the under and exposed surface of the suspended conductor.

Furthermore, my invention comprehends the employment, in an electric railway in which there are two or more tracks, of a separate suspended conductor for each track for supplying electric current to the cars moving upon the said tracks and the employment of the track-rails of the respective tracks as return-conductors. In this construction the various conductors for supplying current to the electrically-propelled vehicles are coupled in parallel and with one pole of the generatn ing apparatus, while the track-rails are also coupled in parallel and connected with the other pole of the electric generator. The cars, 4o as before stated, are provided with a contact device for making connection with the suspended conductors, and, preferably, said contact device is an upwardly-extending underrunning contact. By this construction I am enabled to lighten the overhead structure by providing a single working-conductor and employing the track-rails and earth as the return. Furthermore, the said suspended conductor, arranged above the railway, may be light and iiexible, as the contact device is preferably supported by the vehicle,` and the weight thereof is not borne by the conductor. The car .is provided with an electric motor mechanically connected with the axle for rotating it, andthe current is supplied -to the motor from the overhead collector through a suit-able regulator or resistance.- changer. The current after leaving the motor is delivered by the wheels or otherwise tothe rails.

If desired, theA suspended workingfconductor 6o may be supported above and parallel to the railway by suit-able supporting-posts and latemily-projecting arms or extensions, and current may be supplied thereto from an auxiliary or supply cable or` conductor extending along the railwayih any suitable manner, but preferably supported upon the same posts or poles and electrically connected at intervals with the working-conductor.

In the drawings, Figures l, 2, and 3 are plan 7o views or diagrams showing several arrangements of railways embodying my improve ments. Figs. l and 5 are crosssections through railways, showing two forms of suspended conductors for supplying current to the electrical 7 5 vehicle and illustrating an upwardly-extending under running contact carried by the vehicle; and Eig. G is a similar view, but one in which the suspended conductor is located within a conduit.

Referring first to Fig. 1,12 represents the track-rails of the main line, and B the suspended electrical conductor for supplying current to the motor. The conductor B is preferably the positive conductor, and the rails B act as a return-conductor. A is the generator for supplyingr electric current to the conductors B and B. I represent track-rails of a parallel railway or turn-out and are electrically connected with the track-rails B of the 9o main line. I is the suspended conductor of the turn-out rails I, and is electrically connected with the conductor B of the main line.

Referring to Fig. 2 I have the track-rail conductors B and suspended conductor B bent into aloop B7 and formed into a returnrailway I4, which may be connected with the main track ata point nearer the generator A Referring to Fig. 3 I have tnree parallel railway-tracks, two of which are shown by roo dotted lines as connected by a loop at one end, so that a car may pass up one track and down the other. The third railway-track (marked I5) is shown as connected by a switch with one ot the other tracks. The rails of these several tracks are marked B, and each of them is provided with a suspended conductor I3', all of which suspended conductors are coupled in parallel with one pole of the generator A', and all of the conductor-rails B are coupled in parallel with the other pole ol the generator A.

In Figs. l, 2, and 3 of this application I have shown heavy parallel lines to indicate the rails and a light line interposed between them to indicate the suspended conductor. In the corresponding iigures of the original application the positive and negative circuits alone were indicated, and were adapted to either of the various specific constructions shown in the other ligures of the said application. IVhen the circuits of Figs. ll, l2, and 13 of the original application are applied to the system shown in Fig. 2G of said application, I have the construction set out in this application. These Figs. l, 2, and 3 ditter from those of the original application only in duplicating the negative conductors, which is the natural result of using the rails as the return-conductor.

In Fig. 4,A is a pole arranged along the side of the railway-track, and is provided at the upper part with a laterally-proj ecting arm A, made V shape, which arm normally supports the suspended conductor 3. The car is provided with an upwardly-extending collectorarm C, carrying upon its upper end a grooved contact-wheel C2, which makes an underrunning contact with the suspended conductor B', which is arranged at a distance above the railway-track. D2 is an electric motor mechanically connected with the axle of the car for rotatingD it, and current is supplied from the collector to the motor by a circuit E on the car provided with a current-regulator or resistance-changer IS. There are a series of posts A arranged on the side of the railway, so that the conductor B is suspended at in tervals and held at an elevation preferably out ot reach of persons passing along the railway. As the collector moves along in contact with the under portion of the conductor, the latter is raised as the collector passes over the laterally-projecting arms If desired, current may be supplied to the working-conductor I3 from a supply-conductor h, supported upon the posts A out ot' reach ot' the collector and electrically connected at intervals with the conductor B by means of the metal brackets A5 or otherwise.

In Fig. 5 I have substantially the same general construction; but in this case the susl pended working-conductor 3 is supported from the posts A by laterally-projecting arms B3, permanently connected with the upper edge of the conductor. The upwardly-extending contact-arm C carries, as before, a grooved contact-wheel C?, making an underrunning contact with the conductor l5', and yet is out of reach of the supply-conductor Z), which, as in ease of Fig. 4, is connected electrically at intervals with the working-conductor B. The supply-conductor h is shown in dotted lines in Fig. l.

In the case of the construction shown in Fig. 6 I have the working-conductor B suspended within a slotted conduit K, and the collector-arm C is supported upon the axles of the car, with provision for lateral movelnent by being supported in suitable transverse guides, and the arm carries the underrunning contact-wheel C2, as before. In all these cases the rails act as the return-conductor, and the current is supplied to an underrunning contact collector, supported wholly by the car, from a suspendedconductor whose under surface is unobstructed and exposed. The supply-conductor b may or may not be used, as desired,but is desirable where the railway is very long or where a large number of cars are operating upon a shorter railway. It is evident that the current-collecting devices for all positions of the suspended conductor B may be made laterally movable, if so desired.

I do not limit myself to the mere details of construction, as they may be modified in various ways without departing from the principles of my invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an electric railway, the combination of a looped track forming a return-circuit and connecting` with one pole ot' the generator, a looped conductor extending along the railway electrically independent of the rails ot' the track and having its opposite ends connected with the other pole of the generator, an electrically-propelled vehicle having a motor mechanically connected to rotate the axle, a current-collecting device supported by the vehicle and making a traveling connection with the conductor, and a motor-circuit carried upon the vehicle, including the motor and connecting the collector device with the rails.

2. In an electric railway, the combinatibn of a track forming a return-circuit and connecting with one pole of the generator, a conductor extending along` the railway electrically independent of the rails of the track and connected with the other pole of the generator, an elcctrically-propelled vehicle having a motor mechanically connected to rotate the axle, a laterally-movable current-collecting device supported wholly by the vehicle and making a traveling connection with the conductor, a motor-circuit carried upon the vehicle, including the motor and connecting the collector device with the rails, and a currentregulator upon the vehicle for eontrollingthe current passing through the motor-circuit and motor.

3. In an electric railway, the combination IOO IZO

of the track-rails forming the return-circuit and electrically connected with one pole of the generator, a suspended conductor arranged at a considera-ble elevation above the track-rails and receiving current from the other pole of the generator, an electricallypropelled vehicle having a roof and provided with an electric motor mechanically connected to rotate its axle, a current-regulator for controlling the current delivered to the motor, and a long upwardlyextending current-collecting device having a grooved roller carried by the vehicle above its root out of reach of passengers and making a continuous contact with the suspended conductor, and an electric circuit between the currentcollecting device and rails, including the electric motor and current-regulator.

4. In an electric railway, the combination of the track-rails forming the return-circuit and electrically connected with one pole of the generator, asuspended conductor extending along the railway at a different elevation from the rails and electrically independent thereof and electrically connected with the other pole of the generator, an electricallypropelled vehicle having an electric motor mechanically connected to rotate the axle, a laterally-movable ernment-collecting device carried by the vehicle and making an Linderrunnin g contact with the conductor, and a circuit exteuding from the current-collecting device to the rails, including the electric motor.

5. The combination of two or more railwaytracks the rails of which are electrically connected together and with one pole of the generator, a separate conductor for each railwaytrack arranged at a different elevation than the railway-tracks and electrically independent of the rails and also electrically connected together and with the other pole of the generator, an electrically-propelled vehicle having an electric motor mechanically connected to rotate the axle, a current-collecting device making a continuous cont-act with the conductor, which is independent of the rails and a circuit carried by the car, including the electric motor and connecting the currentcollecting device with the rails.

6. The combination of two or more railwaytracks the rails of which are electrically connected together and with one pole of the generator, a separate suspended conductor for each railway-track electrically independent of the rails and also electrically connected together and with the other pole of the generator, an electrically-propelled vehicle having an electric motor mechanically connected to rotate the axle, a current-collecting device making a continuous contact with the suspended conductor, carried by the vehicle and provided with an underrunning contact part moving in connection with the under surface of the suspended conductor, which is independent of the rails, and a circuit carried by the car, including the electric motor and connecting the current-collecting device vwith the rails.

7. In an electric railway, the combination of two or more tracks the rails of which form return-conductors and are electrically connected together and with one pole of a genator, with a separate suspended conductor arranged at an elevation above cach of the tracks and also electrically connected together and with the other pole of the generator, one or more electrically-propelled vehicles for said railway-tracks, provided with an electric motor mechanically arranged to rotate the axle, an upwardly-extending current-collecting device making a running contact with the suspended conductor, and an electric circuit on the vehicle, including the motor and connecting the current-collecting device with the rails.

S. In an electric railway, the combination of two or more tracks the rails of which form return-conductos and are electrically connected together and with one pole of a generator, a separate suspended conductor arranged at an elevation above each of the tracks and also electrically connected together and with the other pole of the generator, one or more electrically-propelled vehicles for said railway-tracks, provided with an electric motor mechanically arranged to rotate the axle, a current-collecting device consisting of an upwardly-extending arm arranged above the roof ol' the vehicle and provided with a a grooved contact portion (in the groove of which the conductor rests) for making an underrunning contact with the suspended conductor, and an electric circuit on the vehicle, including the motor and connecting the current-collecting device with the rails.

Q. The combination of two or more railwaytracks the rails of which are electrically connected together and with one pole of the generator, a separate suspended conductor for each railway-track and electrically independent of the rails and also electrically connected together and with the other pole of the generator, an electrically-propelled vehicle having an electric motor mechanically connected to rotate the axle, a current-collectingdevice making a continuous contact with the conductor, carried by the vehicle and provided with an underrunning contact part moving in connectionwith the under surface of the suspended conductor, which is independent of the rails, a circuit carried by the car, including the electric motor and connecting the current-collecting device with the rails, and a supply-conductor extending along the railway out of reach of the suspended conductor and electrically connected at intervals with the conductor or conductors with which the contact device makes connection.

l0. In an electric railway, the combination ot two or more tracks the rails oi' which form return-conductors and are electrically connected together and with one pole of the generator, with a separate suspended conductor IOO IIO

arranged at an elevation above each et the tracks and also electrically connected together and with the other pole of the generator, one or more electrically-propelled vehicles for said railway-tracks, provided with an electric motor mechanically arranged to rotate the axle, an upwardly-eXtending currentcollecting device making an underrunning contactwith the suspended conductor, an electric circuit on the vehicle, including' the motor and connecting the current-collecting device with the rails, and a supply-conductor extending along the railway out of reach ot the current-collecting device and electrically connected with the conductor or conductors with which the contact device makes connection.

11. In au electric railway, the combination of a track forming a return-circuit and connecting with one pole of a generator, a suspended conductor extending along the railway electrically independent of the rails et the track and connected with the other pole of the generator, an electrically-propelled vehicle having a motormechanically connected to rotate the axle, a current-collecting device supported wholly by the vehicle and making` a traveling connection with the suspended conductor, a motor-circuit carried upon the vehicle, including the motor and connecting the collector device with the rails, and a supply-conductor extending along the railway out of reach of the current-collecting device and electrically connected with the conductor with which the contact device makes connection.

12. In an electric railway, the combination of the track-rails forming a return-circuit and connected with one pole et the generator, a suspended conductor electrically ind ependent of the rails and having its lower surface unobstructed, an clectrically-propelled vehicle provided with an electric motor mechanically connected with its axle to rotate it, an under-moving contact with the vehicle and making an electrical connection with the under surface of the suspended conductor, an

' electrical circuitcarried by the car, including the motor and connecting` the current-collecting device with the rails, and a supplyconductor extending along the railway out of reach of the current-collecting device and connected electrically with the suspended conductor with which the contact device makes connection.

13. The combination of two or more railway-tracks the rails of which are electrically connected together and with one pole of the generator, a series of poles arranged along the railway-tracks, suspended conductors for each of the railway-tracks electrically independent of the rails, but supported from said posts and electrically connected together and with the other pole ot the generator7 one or more electrically-propelled vehicles for said railway-tracks, provided with contact devices for making a contact with the suspended conductors and supply current to the. motors of the vehicles, and one or more supply-conductors extending along the railway-track and electrically connected with the suspended conductors at intervals.

1t. The combination of two or more railway-tracks the rails of which are electrically connected together and with one pole of the generator, a series ot poles arrai'iged along the railway-tracks, suspended conductors for each ot the railway-tracks electrically independent et' the rails, butsupported from said posts and electrically connected together and with the other pole of the generator, one or more electrically-propelled vehicles for said railway-tracks, provided with contact devices consisting of an upwardly-extending arm arranged above the root of the vehicle and carrying a grooved contact-wheel for making an underrunning contact with the conductors and supplying current to the motor on the vehicle, and one or more supply-conductors supported upon the posts and extending along the railway-track out of reach of the currentcellecting devices and electrically connected with the suspended conductors at intervals.

15. 1n an electric railway, the combination of a main track and turn-out railway-track the rails of which are electrically connected together and with one pole of the generator, in combination with a suspended conductor for the railway-tracl-, and also a separate suspended conductor for the turn-out track electrically connected together and with the other pole of the generator, but electrically independent ot the rails7 an electrically-propelled vehicle, an upwardly-extending current-collecting device making contact with either of the suspended conductors ot the two tracks, and a circuit carried upon the car, including the electric motor and connecting the currentcollecting device with the rails.

1G. In an electric railway, the combination of a main track and turn-out railway-track the rails of which are electrically connected together and with one pole of the generator, with a suspended conductor for the railwaytrack, and also a separate suspended conductor for the turn-out track electrically connected together and with the other pole ot the generator, but electrically independent of the rails, an electrically-propelled vehicle, an upwardly-extending current-collecting device making contact with either of the suspended conductors ofthe two tracks, and consisting of an upwardly-extending arm arranged above the rootot the car and provided with a grooved contact, in the groove of which the suspended conductor rests and is guided, and a circuit carried upon the car, including the electric motor and connecting the currentcollecting device with the rails.

17. In an electric railway, the combination of two tracks having their rails looped at one end and electrically connected together and IIO with one poleof the generator, a separate suscle, including` the electric motor and connectro pended conductor for each of the tracks, said ing` the Contact device With the mils.y l conductors also being looped to correspond In testimony of which invention l have with the tracks and electrically connected tohereunto set my hand.

gether and with the other pole of the generator, an elcctrically-propelled Vehicle, a con- R' M HUNTER' tact device carried by the vehicle, making a lVitnesses:

running contact With either' of the Suspended ERNEST HOWARD HUNTER, conductors, and a circuit carried by the Vehi- A. J. DUNN. 

